Conservation of eggs.



145 Farrmgdon long period. Since the composition contains a N ITEDSTATES T OFFICE. I

HANS JERNE, OF FINSBURY, LONDON", ENGLAND.

CONSERVATION OF EGGS.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912. Serial No. 670,907.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 12, 1912.

tion above referred to. In addition to the antiseptic effect of thecamphor vapor, the rendering of the shell impervious to water vapor fromthe air prevents the displacement of the yolk due to dilution of thewhite.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, I will now describe one specific method ofprocedure.

A quantity of cellulose is first converted into a jelly-like compositionby thoroughly impregnating it with nitric acid, the quantity of thelatter required for this purpose being from 15 to 20 parts (by Weight),for every 100 parts of cellulose. To this jellylike composition(nitro-cellulose), camphor is then added gradually until it amounts toTo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANS JERNE, a subject of the King of Denmark,residing at road, Finsbury, in the county of London, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to theConservation of Eggs and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to the conservation of eggs, and has reference tothe coating of the shells with antiseptic and preservative fresh duringstorage.

According to this invention there is formed upon the shell of each egg acoating about 45 per or layer of a composition that contains a largepercent-age of camphor, which, by slow evaporation during storage,maintains around the egg an antiseptic atmosphere of camphor vapor.

A satisfactory method of procedure is to add to cellulose a quantity ofcamphor sufiicient to bring the percentage of the latter up to aboutforty-five; alternatively cellulose may first be treated with anappropriate quantity of nitric acid and the requisite amount of camphorthen added. In either case the material so obtained is reduced to thecondition of a thin transparent or semitransparent jelly by the actionof a suitable organic solvent, preferably amyl acetate. This jelly-likecomposition is stored in airtight vessels until required for use, whenit is placed in a bath or tank, and the eggs are dipped in it. The layeror coating adhering to the shell of each egg after immersion quicklysets or hardens to form a cover impermeable by micro-organisms ormoisture, and the egg can then be stored until required for use. Duringstorage, the air around the eggs becomes permeated with camphor vapor,but, since this air is stagnant, the vaporization of the camphor isquite slow, and an antiseptic atmosphere of camphor vapor is thereforemaintained for a bath hot (at from C. to C.) by the circulation of hotwater around the any Other convenient means alternatively the amylacetate may be added to the aforesaid material. In either case thequantities used are such as to produce a thin jelly-like comby weight.This bath of liquid is then ready for use and the eggs are dipped in itone or more at a time, after having been first dipped into a solution ofgelatin to close up the pores of the shell and thus prevent the camphorof the subsequent coating from penetrating the shell.

The coating of gelatin should be allowed to dry before the secondcoating is applied. This second coating quickly solidifies upon thesurface of the eggs and the latter are then ready to be stored. Owing tothe solidification of the material of the second coating, any of thecoating material that remains in the bath should be stored out ofcontact with the air until it is again required; any of that happenslarge amount of camphor, the taste of the to h egg might become slightlyaffected unless the shell were first rendered impervious to thecomposition, and it is therefore advantageous to dip each egg into asolution of gelatin before dipping it into the composiand added tothenext bath.

Amyl acetate is preferred as solvent owing to the fact that thejelly-like composition obtained by its use is transparent; however, sofar as the mere dissolving action is concerned, acetone might beemployed, or methyl acetate, but, with the latter substance inparticular, the composition obtained produces an opaque coating or layerand for that reason may be considered objectionable.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1. A method of conserving eggs, consisting in first coating them Witha thin layer of gelatin, and then With a layer of a composition capableof maintaining around the shell of each egg, during storage, anatmosphere of camphor vapor.

2. A method of conserving eggs, consisting in first coating them with athin layer of gelatin, and then With a layer of a celluloid-likecomposition capable of maintaining around the shell of each egg, duringstorage, an atmosphere of camphor vapor.

3. A method of conserving eggs, consisting in first dipping them in asolution of gelatin, and then into a solution of a composition capableof maintaining around the shell of each egg, during storage, anatmosphere of camphor vapor.

4:. A method of conserving eggs, consisting in first dipping them in asolution of gelatin, and then into a solution in amyl acetate of acomposition capable of maintaining around the shell of each egg, duringstorage, an atmosphere of camphor vapor.

5. An egg having upon its shell a coating of a composition capable ofmaintaining around it, during storage of the egg, an atmosphere of"camphor vapor.

6. An egg having upon its shell a coating of a celluloid-likecomposition capable of maintaining around it, during storage of the egg,an atmosphere of camphor vapor.

7 An egg having upon its shell a coating of gelatin and a second coatingof a composition capable of maintaining around it, during storage of theegg, an atmosphere of camphor vapor.

8. An egg having upon its shell a coating of gelatin and a secondcoating of a celluloid-like composition capable of maintaining aroundit, during storage of the egg an atmosphere of camphor vapor.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWO Witnesses.

H. J'ERNE.

' WVitnesses:

T. SELBY \VARDLE, WALTER J SKERTEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Batents, Washington, D. G.

